: without being prevented by (something)
—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true
Despite [=in spite of] our objections, he insisted on driving.
She ran the race despite an injury.
Despite our best efforts to save him, the patient died during the night.
They are not getting married, despite rumors to the contrary. [=even though there have been rumors saying they are getting married]
Despite its small size, the device is able to store thousands of hours of music.
The law has yet to be passed, despite the fact that most people are in favor of it.
Cite this Entry
“Despite.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/despite. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
